ST 3 — Jù Liáo (巨髎) — Great Crevice
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1. Overview
ST 3 — Jù Liáo (巨髎) — is an acupuncture point on the Stomach meridian. It is a meeting point of the Stomach channel with the Yang Qiao Mai. Together with ST 2 and ST 4 it forms the cheek triad used routinely in acupuncture for sinus disease and facial paralysis.
I am Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto, a member of the British Acupuncture Council with over 25 years of clinical experience. I use ST 3 as part of individually tailored acupuncture prescriptions at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire.
2. Location
Directly below the pupil at the level of the lower border of the ala nasi, lateral to the nasolabial groove.
3. Actions
- Eliminates Wind from the face
- Opens the nasal passages and clears sinusitis
- Activates the meridian and relieves facial pain
4. Indications
- Sinusitis with congestion, frontal head heaviness and facial pressure
- Facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy)
- Trigeminal neuralgia in the maxillary branch
- Toothache of the upper teeth
- Twitching of the eyelid
- Epistaxis and nasal polyps
5. Needling
Perpendicular insertion 0.3–0.5 cun, or oblique towards the lateral side. Avoid forceful manipulation to prevent bruising.
6. Clinical notes
ST 3 is the deepest of the cheek triad and the most direct point for clearing maxillary sinusitis. I often combine it with LI 20, BL 2 and Yin Tang for sinus presentations; with LI 4 for any face-and-mouth condition.
7. Treatment at my clinic
I use ST 3 in bespoke prescriptions for chronic sinusitis, post-viral anosmia, facial paralysis and maxillary-distribution trigeminal neuralgia. Every treatment is individually tailored following a full TCM assessment. Book a consultation in Wokingham, Berkshire.
